Former Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit has reportedly turned down her party’s offer of leading the Congress in UP in the upcoming 2017 elections as its chief ministerial candidate.
According to a report published by NDTV, Dikshit has cited “lack of time” as the reason behind the decision.
Earlier, Congress President Sonia Gandhi reportedly met the former chief minister to discuss the plan. After their meeting, when she was questioned by the media over the issue, she left reporters guessing by saying: “Nothing to report.”
Poll strategist Prashant Kishor had initially proposed her name considering the complex caste politics in the state. He believed that the upper caste Dikshit will be a good choice for the Congress in Uttar Pradesh.
The report also added that Dikshit had also become a leading choice for Uttar Pradesh because of her record in Delhi and her family ties to the state.
This will come as a blow to the Congress, which is looking to make a comeback in the upcoming polls next year.
The Congress is currently the least favoured party in the state, coming in behind the Samajwadi Party, BJP and the Bahujan Samaj Party.
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